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Feline diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in cats whereby either insufficient insulin response or insulin resistance leads to persistently high blood glucose concentrations. Diabetes affects up to 1 in 230 cats, [1] and may be becoming increasingly common. Diabetes is less common in cats than in dogs.
The cat must have a supply of niacin, as cats cannot convert tryptophan into niacin. [5] However, diets high in corn and low in protein can result in skin lesions and scaly, dry, greasy skin with hair loss. [5] A deficiency of the B vitamin biotin causes hair loss around the eyes and face. [1]
Although any age, breed, or sex of cat can develop feline hyperesthesia syndrome, it has been noted that Abyssinian, Burmese, Himalayan and Siamese breeds appear to have an increased risk of developing the disease, therefore there is the possibility of a genetic link. [1] [3] [4] [11]
The vast majority of cats present with diabetes mellitus, the possibility of hypersomatotropism causing it is rarely considered until the diabetes becomes difficult to control. In cats with difficult to control diabetes mellitus, hypersomatotropism should be considered as a cause only after exclusion of other conditions that can impact insulin.
Necrobiosis lipoidica is a rare, chronic skin condition predominantly associated with diabetes mellitus (known as necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum or NLD). [1] It can also occur in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis or without any underlying conditions ( idiopathic ). [ 2 ]
Chronic hyperglycemia that persists even in fasting states is most commonly caused by diabetes mellitus. In fact, chronic hyperglycemia is the defining characteristic of the disease. Intermittent hyperglycemia may be present in prediabetic states.
Feline diseases are often opportunistic and tend to be more serious in cats that already have concurrent sicknesses. Some of these can be treated and the animal can have a complete recovery. Others, like viral diseases, are more difficult to treat and cannot be treated with antibiotics, which are not effective against viruses.
A fasting blood sugar level of ≥ 7.0 mmol / L (126 mg/dL) is used in the general diagnosis of diabetes. [17] There are no clear guidelines for the diagnosis of LADA, but the criteria often used are that the patient should develop the disease in adulthood, not need insulin treatment for the first 6 months after diagnosis and have autoantibodies in the blood.